Lowe’s top merchant to retire

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Lowe’s has announced the retirement of Charles “Nick" Canter, executive VP merchandising, after 36 years with the company. Canter will retire on March 4, 2011. Lowe’s will announce Canter’s replacement prior to the end of its fiscal year on Jan. 31.

Most of Canter’s career at Lowe’s was spent in store operations. He joined the company in 1974, working in a number of operations and merchandising positions for the company, including a five-year stint as regional VP operations for Lowe's Atlanta-based southeast region. Canter also led the retailer’s entry into the Northeast, becoming senior VP operations for the newly created northern division in 1999.

Canter was later promoted to senior VP operations, and in 2005, became executive VP operations, which included directing the company’s installed sales and commercial business customer initiatives.

In 2006, when Larry Stone was named company president and COO, Canter stepped into the role of executive VP merchandising.